Wagon-body raiser.



No. 683,495. Patented oct. l, 190|.

.1. H. PRIESTLEY. AwAGoN BODY BAISER.

(Application med mr. 1s, v1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

N0. 6835/41955.v Patented UCL l, |9Ul.

J. H. PRIESTLEY. WAGON BODY BAISER. (Application m@ Mar. 1s, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) l

CZfLP/t'aSZey,

wwwa., wAsmNsmN D c UNITED STATESv PATENT Fries.

.IOIIN IIENERY PRIESTLEY, OF CHEROKEE, IOIVA.

WAGON-BODY RAISER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,495, dated October 1, 1901. Application liled Marol113,1901. Serial No. 5t),898. (No model.)

To all 1072/0751/ t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HENERY PRIEST- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at-Cherokee, in the county of Cherokee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Wagon-Body Raiser, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the means for removing vehicle bodies and racks from the running-gear or replacing the same thereon, and more particularly to that class in which the body or rack is automatically raised during the movement of the vehicle through the device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction which will automatically lock itself in raised position and yet will permit of the ready lowering of the rack or body supported thereon when it is desired to replace the same upon the running-gear.

A further object is to provide an improvedl construction of supporting members whereby the structure vis greatly strengthened and the chances of lateral movement are reduced to a minimum. Y

'To accomplish these and other objects; the construction set forth in the following specication and shown in the accompanying drawings is preferably provided; but it will be understood that the invention is open to change and modification, provided the same is within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe improved wagon body or rack raiser. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the outer guide board or plate and one of the rails removed and showing the supports in their lower position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the supports raised and carrying a hay-rack. Fig. 4: is a vertical cross section through the device. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a front portion'of the vehicle and rack, more clearly illustrating the construction and arrangement of the connecting device.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The device comprises a pair of spaced supporting elements 10, and as both are similar in all respects but one will be described.

A pair of upright posts 11 are firmly set in the ground a suitable distance apart and are connected on their opposite sides just above the surface by boards 12, forming an interbeyond one of the posts, as at 14. Apair of supporting standards 15 15 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends in the guidewaj7 13, contiguous to the posts, by means of bolts 16 or similar devices, which pass through the guide-plates 12. The upper ends of the' standards 15 are connected by rails 17, fastened upon opposite sides of the same by pivots 18, said rails having an upstanding stop-block 19 rigidly secured between them at one end. The distance between the pivots 1S is greater than the distance between the pivots 16 at the lower ends of the standards, so that when the standard 15a is in a vertical position and against the upper end of the adjacent post 1l the other standard 15 will be past the center of gravity, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. At the same time the rails 17 will be in substantially horizontal position. In order to securely lock them in raised position, one of the standards 15a carries a pivotal loop 20, that is adapted to be placed over the upper projecting end of the adjacent post 11. To limit the swinging movement of the support in the opposite direction, an inclined beam 21 is secured between the guide boards or plates'12, and the standard 152L is arranged to rest upon the saine, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. In this position it will be observed that the rails inoline upwardlytoward the front end.

The two supporting elements 10, as above described, are placed in parallel relation a suitable distance apart,with their corresponding portions directly opposite each other. Guide-tracks 22 are located longitudinally and rigidly secured between the two. The preferable manner of accomplishing this is to connect the corresponding posts of the two elements by means of sleepers 23,' the upper faces of which are level with the ground, and securing said tracks rigidly thereto. This greatly strengthens the structure, as well as forms means for fastening the tracks.

The rack used in connection with the loading and unloading device has fastened thereto a exible connecting device 24, in the present instance shown as a chain, the ends of which are secured to the opposing inner faces mediate guideway 13, said boards projecting IOO 1 of the center stringers near the front end of the rack. This forms a iiexible loop, to the central portion of which is secured a hook 25. Assuming the supporting-tracks in their lowered position, to unload a hay-rack from the running-gear the hook 25 is rst engaged over the pivot-bolt of the wagon-tongue yor some other suitable part of the front portion of the vehicle, which is then driven between the two supporting elements. The wheels engaging the tracks 22 will be maintained in their proper relation, and as the vehicle proceeds the front edge ot the rack will abut against the stop-blocks 19 of the rails 17, whereupon the standards will be swung forwardly and upwardly and the rails consequently raised, thereby raising the rack from the running-gear. As the run ning-gear continues its forward movement the connecting device 24 will continue to raise the supports until the position shown in Fig. 3 is obtained, in which position the rack is located entirely above the runnin g-gear. The connecting de vice 24 is then unhooked from the runninggear and hooked to the rack, whereupon said running-gear may be removed. In this position one set of the standards is in a vertical position, as above described, while the other has passed its center of gravity, and the supports will therefore be maintained in elevated position. To prevent their accidental displacement, however, by wind or other causes, the links are passed over the projecting heads of the posts, thus securely locking the device against movement. To replace the rack, the running-gear is placed between the supporting elements and slightly back of the front ends thereof, and the connecting device is again hooked to the tongue-pivot. The links 2O are unlocked and the standards lowered gentlyuntil the rack again rests upon the vehicle, as will be readily understood. This movement is easily accomplished, for the reason that but one set of standards is past the center of gravity, and as soon as they are moved backwardly the other set begins to counteract the forward pull of the same.

From this construction it will be seen that exceedingly important advantages have been derived. In the rst place the racks will be automatically lifted and will be held sufficiently stable under ordinary conditions or until locked securely, at the same time permitting the ready and easy lowering of the rack. A still further advantage resides in the provision of the guide plates or boards on opposite sides of the standards, which thus allow free longitudinal movement, but prevent any collapsing of the device either inwardly or outwardly and relieve the pivots of all lateral strain. Another important feature is the connecting device 24, which because of its position at the front portion of the vehicle is readily accessible, and because of the looped construction with the central hook but one hook is necessary, while the strain is imparted equally to both sides of the rack, so

that both supporting elements will act simultaneously.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description', and it will be under'- stood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

` Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the class described, spaced supporting elements, each comprising standupper ends of said standards, the distance between the pivots of the rail being dierent than the distance between the lower pivots of the standards whereby when one of said standards is in a vertical position, the other will be at au inclination.

2. In a device of the class described, spaced supporting elements, each comprising standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends, a rail pivotally secured to and connecting the upper ends of said standards, the distance between the pivots of the rail being greater than the distance between the lower pivots of the standards, whereby when one of said standards is in a vertical position, the other will be at an inclination and past the center of gravity.

3. In a device of the class described, spaced supporting elements, each comprising standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends, a rail pivotally secured to and connecting the upper ends of said standards, the distance between the pivots of the rail being greater than the distance between the lower pivots of the standards, whereby when one of said standards is in a vertical position, the other will be at an inclination and past the center of gravity, and means for preventing said former standard passing its vertical position.

4. In a device of the class described', spaced supporting elements each comprising a plurality of posts, guide-plates connecting and secured to the opposite side faces of the posts, standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends and located between the guide-plates, a rail connecting the standards at or contiguous to their upper ends, and a stop element located between and secured to the guideplates for limiting the swinging movements of said standards.

5. In a device of the class described, spaced supporting elements each comprising a plurality of posts, guide-plates connecting and secured to the opposite side faces of the posts, standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends and located between the guide-plates, one of said posts forming a stop to limit the swinging movement of one of the standards- IOO IIO

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in one direction, means for securing said post and standard together to hold the latter against movement, and a rail connecting the upper ends of the standards, said rail being provided with an upstanding stop contiguous to one end.

6. In a device of the class described, spaced supporting elements, each comprising aplurality of posts, guide-plates connecting and secured to the opposite side faces of the posts, standards pivotally mounted at their lower ends between the guide-plates, one of said standards being pivoted contiguous to one of the posts which forms a stop to limit the swinging movement ot' said standard in one direction, a link carried by said standard and adapted to engage over the upper end of the post to lock said standard against movement, and rails connecting and secured to the 0pposite sides of the upper ends of the standards, said rails having secured therebetween an upstanding stop contiguous to one end.

7; In a device of the class described, a vehicle-body raiser comprising spaced swinging supports arranged to engage and lift a body from the running-gear of a vehicle placed between said supports, in combination with a loop adapted to be connected at its ends to opposite portions of the body to be raised and having a hook arranged to be detachably engaged with the running-gear upon which the body is supported.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my o wn I have hereto afiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENERY PRIESTLEY.

Witnesses: r

THOMAS B. PARKER, CORNELIS DE VRIES. 

